Did the Chicago White Sox get the idea for their name from the Boston Red Sox?

by admin on March 21, 2010

so they both just happen to spell "Sox" the same and chose to have a sock color represent their teams?

{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }

meerkat March 21, 2010 at 3:40 am

Both teams were established in 1901. The White Sox used to be the White Stockings but shortened it because it was believed that the press would anyway.

18 gibbs 20 March 21, 2010 at 3:40 am

The Red Sox started out as the Boston PIlgrims. The White Sox had the name first…

Yard March 21, 2010 at 3:40 am

No. The Cubs used to be called the White Stockings back in the 1800s so the new American League team took it and shortened it to White Sox.

Alex March 21, 2010 at 3:40 am

Who cares. Red Sox Rule!!

Fungo March 21, 2010 at 3:40 am

Not at all. In fact, the Chicago team was established as a major league baseball club in 1901. The club was originally called the Chicago White Stockings, after the nickname abandoned by the Cubs, and the name was soon shortened to Chicago White Sox, believed to have been because the paper would shorten it to Sox in the headlines.

The name Red Sox, chosen by owner John I. Taylor after the 1907 season, refers to the red hose in the team uniform beginning 1908. Sox had been previously adopted for the Chicago White Sox by newspapers needing a headline-friendly form of Stockings, as "Stockings Win!" in large type would not fit on a page.

Therefore, the White Sox name came BEFORE (1901) the Red Sox name was selected in 1907.

Add: Yes, Sox was either shortened from Stockings by the team (Red) or by the newspapers (White). The primary stocking/sox colors (red & white) were originally chosen independently by each team.

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